Tra raditional ditional Band and Rehear ehearsal al Roy D. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Inco ncorporat porating ing Th Theor eory y in into o th the e Tra raditional ditional Band and Rehear ehearsal al Roy D. Magnuson, Illinois State University

What is music? ic? Sound or sounds that one perceives to be organized.

What is music ic theor ory? y? Studying the possibilities of music? Learning an objective language for speaking about music. Intervals Gr+6 Scales Melody Key Sigs Harmony Secondary (0, 1, 4) Function

What is music ic theor ory? y? Intervals Gr+6 Scales Melody Key Sigs Harmony Secondary (0, 1, 4) Function This is is our This is not music theory. problem! oblem! This is probably best called “ pre-theory ”.

The Proble blem We spend our entire time teaching a language we never get to actually use.

So…what do we do then? There is no shortcut here. You must teach the language. It is not fast, or cool, or sexy. It takes time and seems like work to the students. Because it is. Some meta points, an example or two, and discussion.

Met eta a thought ghts Simple concepts to complex concepts. (This really isn’t that complicated!) Like any language, it is tons of small rules over and over. Use your ear. We have been hearing these sounds our entire lives. Simple ple concepts to complex concepts. Thinki inking ng and d list steni ening. ng.

For example…Scales. How do you teach students scales? What are scales? Collections of pitches, experienced linearly. Major/minor (and forms?) WWHWWWH?

For example…Scales Be more reductive. What are scales? Representation of key signatures, organized linearly. Hierarchy. Centricity. THAT IS WHAT WE HEAR! So we should teach them that way ☺

For example…Scales Key signatures. Not hard at all. Memorize them.

For example…Scales This is our periodic table. Can you ima magine ne studying chemistry and not memorizing the periodic table?

For example…Scales

For example…Scales

For example…Intervals and Chords

For example…Intervals and Chords Major Third Minor Third If you know your major and minor key signatures and can count to eight then you know your intervals. (other other than an aug/di /dim! m!)

For example…Part -Writ riting Just don’t teach it. Reverse engineer music by copying music. Micro-composition assignments. Reading sessions of these! Lots of limitations!

Met eta a thought ghts Students rarely willingly sign up to study theory. Not a distraction from performance. Overcome insecurities in knowledge.

Met eta a thought ghts Do not be afraid to literally copy music. This is how theory was absorbed for centuries.

Met eta a thought ghts Be honest with your limitations, both to yourself and to your students. That will be the death of your curriculum.

Met eta a thought ghts Resist the urge to think you are merely teaching testable material. That will be the death of your curriculum.

Met eta a thought ghts If you want objective plans, syllabi, materials just ask!

Met eta a thought ghts Questions?